Entries in Pomegranate
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Hemera/Thinkstock(NEW YORK) -- The FDA announced Saturday it will block shipments of pomegranate seeds from a company in Turkey after U.S. health officials determined that the seeds are to blame for a multi-state outbreak of Hepatitis A that has sickened more than 120 people.

The outbreak began several months ago, and as of this week the CDC reports 127 people were exposed and sickened by in 10 states across the U.S. Health officials were able to trace the outbreak back to the seeds that were used in Townsend Farms Organic Antioxidant Blend, a frozen food blend sold at Costco and Harris Teeter.

“Hepatitis A is a foodborne illness,” explained ABC News' Chief Health and Medical Editor Dr Richard Besser. “It's spread from either contaminated food or contaminated waters, so the presumption is that [when] this was being harvested in Turkey, someone had hepatitis A and it was able to get onto the seeds. From there it survives very well.”

Pomegranate seeds were a particularly effective vehicle for the spread of disease, as the seeds are eaten raw. “Whenever you're eating a raw product, you're at greater risk of a food-borne illness because heat is one of the best ways of killing so many different germs,” Besser said.

Photo Courtesy -- Getty Images(LOS ANGELES) -- A Federal Trade Commission complaint charges POM Wonderful LLC with "making false and unsubstantiated claims that their products will prevent or treat heart disease, prostate cancer and erectile dysfunction." David Vladeck, director of the FTC's Bureau of Consumer Protection said, “When a company touts scientific research in its advertising, the research must squarely support the claims made. Contrary to POM Wonderful’s advertising, the available scientific information does not prove that POM Juice or POMx effectively treats or prevents these illnesses.” On Monday, POM Wonderful declined to answer questions, however a spokesperson released a statement on behalf the the popular juice company. In the statement, POM accuses the FTC of "wasting taxpayer resources to persecute the pomegranate." The statement also indicates that POM has initiated a lawsuit to preserves its "first amendment rights to communicate the promising results of [their] extensive scientific research program on pomegranates." POM Wonderful Pomegranate Juice is available at grocery stores nationwide.